Corn-harvester



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

S. C. KENAGA.

GORN HARVESTER.

No. 299,401. Patented May 27, 1.884.

f f i n. PETERS, Pham-mmmpner. wmmmw. nec,

(No Model.) 3 sheets-sheet 2.

S. C. KENAGA.

vCORN HARVESTER.

No. 299,401. Patented May 27, 1884.

WMV

N. PETERS, PtwwLixlwgmpher, wnshngmn. D. C,

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

s. o. KENAGA.

` CORN HARVESTER. No. 299,401. Patented May 27, 1884-.

- my?, y

N. PETERS. Phm-Luhegmphur. wnslvmgwn, D. c.

invention.

Unitime dramas Barrena firmen..

SAMUEL C. KENAGA, OF KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS.

CGRNHARVESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 299,401, dated May 27, 1884.

i Application filed July 1883. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern.'

Be it known that I, SAMUEL C. KENAGA, of Kankakee, in the county of Kankakee and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Harvesters; and I do hereby declare that thefollowingis a full,

clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification,

This invention relates to an improvement in corn-harvesters or machines for cutting standing corn in the field and depositing it in bunches preparatory to shocking` it. It relates more particularly to machines having stationary cutters or knives arranged to sever the cornstalks by being drawn against them in the forward movement of the machine. Its object is to generally improve the construction ofthe class of corn-harvesters-referred to and it consists in the matters hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims. It has been found desirable in corirharvesters of the class mentioned to arrange the cutting-knife at some considerable distance above the ground, so as to sever the corn at some distance above the roots, and thereby save the handling and storage of the lower part or butt-ends ofthe stalks, which is necessary when the stalks are cut at a point near the ground. In the use of machines so constructed stubs of considerable height are left in the field, which it is desirable to cut down, so that they may lie upon the soil and become rotted.

For the purpose of removing such stubs, one part of my invention consists in attaching to the corn-harvester a second cuttingknife constructed to travel a short distance above the ground, so as to encounter the standing butts and sever themat a point near their roots.

Ihe'invention consists also in improvements in machines having a receptacle for the cut corn adjacent to the knife, in the devices for delivering the cut corn into the receptacle and discharging it therefrom, in the construction and arrangement of the cutterlknife, and in improvements in other details of such ma chines, as will be hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan view of a corn-harvcster embodying my Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section upon line x m of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section upon line y g/ of Fig. 1. Fig.

5 is a detail view of the device for temporarily supporting the butts ofthe cut corn, taken upon line x w of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section upon line y g/ of Fig. et. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the device for adjusting the height of the body. of the harvester upon the supporting-wheels. Fig. S is a detail plan view of the support for the lower knife.

The machine as illustrated in the drawings is organized to ent one row of corn at a time; and it consists, generally, of a receptacle for the corn having attached to it upon one side a guide-piece, which passes outside ofthe row of corn to be cut, between which guide-piece andthe main frame the cutting-knife is placed.

The machine is supported at its rear end by two wheels placed at either side thereof, and two thills are attached to its front end, by which the machine i`s drawn either by one horse in the thills or by two horses traveling tandem.

rIhe main frame or body of the machine consists of two longitudinal frame-pieces, A A, and an end piece, A', and upon one side of and parallel with the said main frame is placed a guide-piece, B, the pieces A and B being connected to the frame-pieces A at the rear end of the machine by means of a cross-piece, GL i Between the guide-piece B and the framepicce A, at one side of the machine, is placed a cutting-knife, D, which isinwardly, upwardly, and backwardly inclined, and is adapted to sever the cornstalks at a suitable distance from the ground as the machine is drawn forward. lThe guide-piece B is arranged to run outside of the row of corn which is being cut, and is provided with an upwardly and inwardly inclined guide, B, constructed to bend the cornstalks inwardly toward the frame of the machine as it is moved forward. The rear portion of the machine is supported by wheels E, placed at the side of the frame and vertically-adjustable thereon, and at its front end by means of thills F F, attached tothe framepieccs A.

Between and at the lower edges of the side v framepieces, A A, is placed a platform, G,

which, in connection with Vthe said side pieces, forms areceptaele to receive the cut corn, and is pivoted between its ends, so that it may be tilted and the accumulated corn discharged, as hereinafter described. The upward and inwardly inclined guide B terminates at its upper end in a curved portion, B2, which 1s IOO located in advance of the knife, and is are ranged to strike the tops of the cornstalks vwhich have been deflected inwardly by the guide B and incline them forwardly, so that the knife will more readily sever them, and in position to fall into the adjacent receptacle after being cut. The upper end of the guide-piece B and the curved deflector B2 are supported in the machine shown by means of a cross-piece, B", attached to the tops of two standards, B3, which are secured to the longitudinal frame-piece A at one side of the machine, and to the guide-piece B at the other side, by means of inwardly-bent bars B5, Fig. 6. The deflector B2 is preferably provided with a forwardly-projecting portion, B, which acts to arrest the lateral movement of the tops of the corn when thrown inwardly by the guide B9 and to direct them forward upon the platform G.

As a preferable construction in the guidepiece B, it consists of a plank placed with its ilat side horizontal,and connected to the crosspiece C at the rear end of the machine by two of a rearwardly-inclined knife as heretofore constructed the stalks yield laterally as they strike the inclined edge of the knife and move along the said edge, a draw-cut being thereby produced. At theinner end ofthe knife, at the point where it intersects the guide-piece, however, the stalks are held from lateral motion `by the said guide-piece, so that they are liable to be caught in the acute angle formed by the.

knife and guide-piece, and the knife is at such time liable to become choked so as to fail to cut properly. To obviate this difficulty, l have supported the said knife upon the machine by a spring-connection, so that it will yield backwardly and vhave extended its inner end'to a point beyond or inside of the outer face of the framepieceA, so that in case any of the stalks become wedged in the angle between the knife and said guide-piece it will act with a drawcut upon such stalks, and they will be readily severed.

As shown in the drawings, and as preferably constructed, the knife D is attached at its outer end to the guide-piece B by means of a sary.

The particular construction shown in the spring d is not a part of my invention, and is therefore not included in the matters claimed in this application. v

In the operation of the machine, the corn is iirst inclined forwardly and inwardly by the guides B and B2, so that when it is cut the tops will fall forward upon the tilting platform G. In order to deliver the butts of the cut corn inwardly over the longitudinal side piece, A, when their tops are thrown forward, as described,a rotating spiral conveyer (designated, as a whole, by the letter H) is mounted upon the machine-frame in such position that the butt-ends of the corn will rest across it when the tops thereof fall forward, so that the butts will be carried thereby laterally inward and over the said side piece. The spiral conveyer mentioned is preferably placed in a horizontal position with its front end at a point over the guide-piece A, and in advance' of the knife, and is arranged in a diagonal or rearwardly-inclined position, so that the butts will be carried to a point about midway of 'the machine, and will then be released from the said conveyer. As ,shown in the drawings, the conveyer H is composed of a shaft, H', having a spiral flange, h, upon its forward portion, and mounted at its front end in a bearing, h', secured to the top of the framepiece A at a point some distance in advance of the knife, and at itsl rear end in bearings h2 h2 upon the rear cross-piece, C. The said shaft is rotated inthe -machine shown by means of a pinion, H2, upon its rear end, which meshes with a gear-wheel, l', upon a transverse shaft, I, having bearings in bracketst' upon the rear of the machine, and is driven by a belt, l2, passing over sprocket-wheels l3 and E', secured upon said'shaft and the wheel E, respectively. In the operation of the device last mentioned the butts of the cut corn, as the tops fall forward on being cut, rest across the forward end of the vshaft H', and by the rotation thereof are carried by the rib h inwardly, until, on account of the rearward inclination of the shaft IOO IIO

H. they are no longer supported thereby, and i -slide therefrom to the ground. The said receptacle G is in the machine shown supported by a cross-bar, g, the ends of which have bearings in depending lugs a. upon the side piece, A, said cross bar being preferably placed nearer therear than the front end of the receptacle, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, so that when the said receptacle is tilted sufficiently to effect the discharge of the corn the rear end will not encounter the ground. The receptacle G is preferably provided with upwardly-projecting side flanges, G', and is ject forward of said receptacle from dragging moved by means of a rearwardlyprojeeting hand-lever, G2, connected thereto by means of uprights g', attached to one of the side flanges, G'. The end of said hand-lever is preferably placed outside of and adjacent to the standard B3, and a strip, g3, is attached to the side of said standard, so as to form a vertical guideslot for said lever.

For the purpose of supporting the recepta cle G in a horizontal position, the lever G2 may be provided with a spring-deten't, g2, constructed to engage a notch, y, in the standard B3; or any other well-known locking device may be used for the samepurpose. The movable or tilting receptable G preferably terminates at its rear end at a-point some distancein advance of the knife, and in such position that the butt-ends ofthecut stalks, when they fall thereon, will project over said end, so that when the reeeptacle'is tilted the overhanging ends of the stalks will encounter the ground, and by the forward movement of the machine the stalks will be dragged from the receptacle. The front end of said receptacle terminates in the machine shown at a short distance from the front cross-piece, A', a stationary bottom, G", being secured to the front portion of the frame for the purpose of preventing the tops of the stalks which may proupon theground. The receptacleG may inanifestly be extended to the front cross-piece, A', but the construction shown is preferred, inasmuch as a sufcient portion of the cut corn will rest thereon, to enable it to be thrown into an inclined position, and by reducing the length of said receptacle it is thereby made lighter and may be more easily operated.

For the purpose of supporting the butt-ends of the cornstalks which are delivered over the side piece, A, during the time that the receptacle G is being tilted for the purpose of discharging the accumulated corn therefrom, a swinging arm or rest, J, is connected to and operated by the lever G2 in such manner that when the said lever is depressed for the purpose of tilting the said' receptacle, the arm will be thrown across the machine and in position to receive the butts of the corn carried inwardly by the conveyer H, and will be moved backwardly and outwardly into a position against the longitudinal side piece, A, when the said receptacle is returned to its normal position.

As preferably constructed, the arm J is connected with an eye, j', upon the lever G2 by means of an eyej, and is provided with an' upwardly-inclined arm, J, constructed to engage an eye, (72, secured to the guide-piece B2, the eyes 7" and j2 being relatively so situated that when the lever G2 is depressed the arm J will be supported in a position transverse to thelongitudinal side pieces of the machine, as shown in Fig. 5, and in dotted lines in Fig. 4, and when the said end is elevated the said arm will rest at the side of the cornaeceptacle with its end toward the rear of the machine, as

and to the rear of the knife D.

shown in Figs. land et. The arm J is preferably curved upwardly near its extremity, and is so located that its curved end will come beneath the forward portion of the conveyer H when thrown across the receptacle. stop, j, may be placed upon the lever G`Z in position to encounter the vertical portion of the arm J and to act as a positive stop to limit its forward movement. Such stop is not essential to the operation of the device, but is found desirable in practice for the reason that the said arm is preferably connected loosely to the eyes j and jz, and excessive play in said arm consequent in such loose connections is thereby prevented.

The eyej, instead of being placed upon the lever G2, may manifestly be secured to any part which is attached to said lever or to the receptacle G. rlhe eye jl also may be secured to any stationary part of the machine-frame or to an arm thereon.

rlhe location of both the eyes mentioned may obviously be varied and the proper move-- ment of the arm J at the same time retained, provided the direction and position of the arm J are correspondingly changed.

By the construction described the arm J is thrown automatically into position to arrest the falling corn bythe operation of tilting the receptacle G, and such corn is prevented from falling upon the receptacle until said receptacle has been returned to its normal position, thereby preventing the corn which is being cut during the time that the receptacle is being emptied from falling to the ground and being distributed along in the path ofthe machine.

Instead of supporting the arm J, as shown, a universal joint may be used in place of the eyes j and j', and the end of the armJ held by a closely-fitted sliding connection instead of by the eyejl, and a more perfect movement of the arm J would thereby be obtained. The construction described is found, however, to give a sufficiently accurate motion for the purpose, and a great advantage is gained on account of its simplicity and cheapness.

In the use of corn-harvesters it has been found desirable to locate the cutter at some distance above the ground, in order to deliver the cut tops properly into the receptacle, and so tha-t the hard and innutritious portion of the stalks near the root will not be gathered up and housed. This location of the knife results in leaving corn-stubs of considerable height, and in order to remove such standing stubs an additional or second knife, K, is placed upon the machine at a point below The knife K is preferably attached to a verticallyyield ing support constructed to rest upon and follow the irregularities of the ground, so that the stubs will be severed in every case at a point near the ground.

structed, the said knife is connected at one end to the said support by a spring, and. is placed in an upwardly and backwardly inclined p0- Apin or IOO IIO

As preferably conf sition in the manner described in connection with the knife D.

As a preferable means of supporting the knife K, an inclined supporting-piece, K', is connected by a hinged joint, k', to the guidepiece B at a point near the front end of the latter, and the rear end of the strip is curved upwardly, so as to form a shoe arranged to rest upon the ground, as shown, an upwardlyprojecting plate, K2, being preferably riveted to the lower end of the strip, to which the spring-extension k of the knife is bolted, as shown in Fig. 8.

For the purpose of preventing lateral or side motion in the lower end of the support K, a rod, K3, is attached to the plate K2, and extends upwardly through guide-apertures in the guide-piece B, and in a plate, 7c3, secured to the piece C, the said rod being curved in an arc concentric with the joint 7c', as shown, so that it will move freely in the said apertures when the lower end of the strip K' is moved vertically. A nut, k", is preferably placed upon the screw-threaded upper end ofthe rod K3, and is adjustable thereon, so that the downward movement of the said strip may be limited when desired.

The support for the knife K, instead of being attached to the guide-piece B, may obviously be attached to the main frame ofthe machine and the knife inclined inwardly.

The particular device shown for supporting the said knife is not essential to myinvention,

and a vertically-yielding shoe of any desired or preferred construction arranged to rest upon the ground may be used.

A seat, L, for the driver is provided, which l is preferably supported upon the cross-piece C by means of aspring-standard, L', as shown. For the purpose of adjusting the frame or body of the machine vertically, the supporting-wheels E are mounted upon short axles e,

secured in vertically-sliding plates M, which are held in guide-plates M', attached to the longitudinal frame-piece A upon one side of the machine', and to the longitudinal guidepiece B at the opposite side thereof.

For the purpose of supporting and adjusting the sliding plate M in the guide-plate M', a rack, m, is formed upon one edge of said plate, as shown in Fig. 7, and a segmental gear, M2, is pivoted to a lateral extension, m', of the plate M', said segmental gear being operated by a hand-lever, M3, secured thereto, which is provided with a detent, m3, constructed to engage a notched segment, m2, upon the edge of the portion m' of the said plate M'.

v In the operation of the machine above described, the corn is first cut by the upper knife knife operates, it 'being necessary only that= such cutting shall occur below the ears. In the case ofthe lower knife, however, it is important that it should cut the stubs close to the ground, 'so that the entire length thereof will rest upon the soil and become rotted. This -result is accomplished by the construction above described, the second or lower knife, which is made movable relatively to the machine-frame, as before stated, being permitted to accurately follow the smaller irregularities of the ground independently of the movement of the' machine over the larger irregularities thereof, whereby the stalks are severed at a uniform distance above the ground without regard to the vertical movements of the machine, caused by the form of the surface over which the supporting-wheels thereof are passing.

I claim as my inventionv l. The combination, with the frame of a cornharvester and a stationary knife for cutting the stalks below the ears, .of a second vertically-movable knife for severing the standing stubs supported from the machine-frame, and constructed to move vertically independently thereof, substantially as/ described.

2. The combination, with the frame of a cornharvester, of a stationary knife for cutting the stalks below the ears, a second knife for severing the standing stubs, and a support for said second knife connected with the machineframe, and constructed to permit said second knife to move vertically with reference to the said frame, and to sustain it at a uniform distance above the ground, substantially as described.

3. In a corn-harvester, the combination, with the longitudinal frame of the machine, a guide-piece, B, and a knife, D, located between said frame and said guide-piece, of a knife, K, a support, K', for said knife, flexibly connected at its front end to said guidepiece, and constructed to rest upon the ground at its rear end, and a vertical rod, K3, attach ed to said rea-r end ofthe support K', and guided at its upper end in apertures in the guidepiece B, whereby lateral motion in said support is prevented, substantially as described.

4. In a corn-harvester, the combination, with the machine-frame and with the guidepiece B, of a knife, K, a support, K', flexibly attached at its front end to the said guidepiece, and a guide-rod, K3, provided with an adjustable nut, 7a4, for limiting the downward movement of said support, substantially as described.

5. In a corn-harvester, the combination, with the` machine-frame and with the guidepiece B, of a knife, K, a support, K', flexibly connected at its front end to said guide-piece, a guide-rod, K, and a plate, K2, attached to said support K', and constructed to afford attachment for said rod and said knife, substantially as described.

6. In a corn-harvester, the combination,

with an inner guide-piece, A, and an outerv IOO IIO

having its end extended to a point inside of the outer face of the guidepiece A, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a corn-liarvester, the coinbiiation with a longitudinal frame-piece, A, and an outer guide-piece, B, of a cutter-knife located between said frame and guide-piece, and having a spring-connection with the outer guidepiece, and having its free end extended past the outer face ofthe franie-piece, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

lS. In a corii-harvester, the combination of a loiigitudi nal frame-piece, A, an outer guidepiece, B, and an upwardly rearward and inwardly inclined knife, D, attached by a springconiiection to the said guide-piece, said framepece A being provided with a notch, a, to ad`- init the free end of the knife, 4substantially as described.

9. The combination with a cutting-knife, a receptacle for the cut corn, and means constructed to direct the tops of the cut corn into the receptacle, of a spiral conveyer constructed to deliver the butts of the cut corn into said receptacle, and means for rotating said conveyer, substantially as shown and described.

10. In a corn-harvester, the combination, with aknife, a receptacle for the cut corn, and means for directing the tops of the corn for wardly into the receptacle, of a spiral convey* er arranged diagonally of the machineframe, with its front end in advance ofthe knife and in position to engage thebutts of the cnt corn, and means for rotating said coiiveyer, substantially as described.

1l. In a corn-harvester, the combination,

witha longitudinal frame-piece, A, cross-piece C, and knife l), of the conveyer-shaft H', mounted at one of its ends in a bearing, 7i', supported upon the piece A in advance of the said knife, and at its opposite end in bearings h2 upon the cross-piece C, and means for rotating the` said shaft II', substantially as de scribed.

l2. In a corn-harvester, the combination, with the machine-frame, a knife, a tilting re' ceptacle for the cut corn, and means for directing the cut corn into the receptacle, of means for temporarily supporting the butt-s of the eut corn, operated by the movement of said tilting receptacle, substantially as described.

13. The combination, with the inachineframe and a knife for severing the standing corn, of a rearward-tilting platform to receive and discharge the corii-tops, means constructed to deposit the tops on said platform with their butts to the rear, and means for tilting the platform, substantially as described.

14. The combination, with the machineframe and a knife for severing the standing corn, of a rearward-tilting platform for the reception and discharge of the corii-tops, arranged in advance of the knife, whereby the corn falls forward thereon with its butts to the rear, and means for tilting the platform, substantially as described.

`lli-The combination, with the machineframeand a knife for severing the standing corn, of a rearward-tilting platform located with its rear edge in advance of the knife, means to cause the corn-tops to fall forwardly upon said platform, and means for tilting the platform, substantially as described. A

16. In a cornharvester, the combination, with the iiiachiiie-franie, a knife, a tilting receptacle for the cut corn, and means for delivering the cut corn into the receptacle, of an arm, J, pivoted to a movable part attached to the said tilting receptacle, and constructed to engage a stationary part of the machineframe, substantially as and for the purpose set/ forth.

17. In a corn-harvester, the combination, with the machine-frame, of a lever, G, pivoted to the frame, an eye, j2, upon said frame, and an arm, J, pivoted by a universal joint to said lever, and provided with a projecting portion, J constructed to engage the said eyejz, substantially as described.

1S. In a corn-harvester, the combination, with the machine-frame, of atilting platform, G, a lever G2, rigidly secured thereto, and provided with an eye, j', an eye, j2, secured upon a stationary part of the machine-frame, and an arm, J, having an eye, j, engaged with the eye j', and an npwardlyextended portion, J', constructed to engage the eye j2, substantially as described.

19. In a corn-harvester, the combination, with the machine-frame, of a hand-lever, G2,

an eye, j2, attached to a stationary portion of the frame, an arm, J, pivoted to the said handlever, and having a projecting portion, J', constructed to engage the said eye j2, and a pin, jg, upon the lever G2, for limiting the forward motion of said arm J, substantially as described.

20. In a corn-harvester, the combination, with the knife, and with an upwardly and inwardly inclined guide, B', of a deflector, B2, provided with a forwardly-projecting point, B, 'substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

21. In a corirharvester, the combination, with the inachine-frame, a guide-piece, B, and a knife located between the said frame and guide-piece, of an upwardly andinwardly inclined guide, B', a deilector, B2, and standards B"s and cross-piece B", for supporting said guide and deflector, substantially as described.

22. In a cornharvester, the combination, with the horizontal frame'pieces A and crosslpieces A' and C, of the outer guide-piece, consisting of a horizontally-1 laced board, B,

and side pieces, b and b', substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature in Writnesses:

OHARLEs F. NVHi'riionn, Farin. D. PARKER.

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